Flat Fee Recruitment: A Cost-Effective Way to Hire CPAs

7 Days Free Trial

for Enterprise Subscriptions

Trusted by 250,000+ Professionals for Continuing Education

Create Your Account 1/2

Already have an account? Log In

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Company Name

Password

Confirm Password

Promo Code

I Accept myCPE Terms and Conditions

You can cancel anytime during your trial period.

Become a Valued Member of myCPE Professionals Community

Trusted by 250,000+ Professionals

"Steven was knowledgeable and thorough…”

Steven was knowledgeable and thorough in his information about the product and what is offered. He was empathetic to my situation. He went above and beyond answering all of my many questions. Excellent service!

Crystal lovejoy

"Great Customer Service”

Great service and very patient as I asked several questions. Steven answered all my questions and helped me make the right decision in my subscription purchase. Thank you.

Lori corry

"It is what it advertised to be”

It is what it advertised to be. Professional quality training and CPE tracking and certificates; systems knows AZ CPA CPE requirements and categories. I've needed help on several occasions and the assistance was quick and effective; however, there were some problems with data entry. The assistance sometimes asks for input, but when I try to type it is dissallowed for some reason. On several occasions I had to close the popup to get it out of my way.

Brian Carey

"Great customer service”

Great customer service. Classes are pertinent. Great value

Steve

1/4

Create Your Free Account

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Password

Confirm Password

Continue

Already have an account? Log In

Card No.

Card Holder Name

Expiry Date

CVV

Address

Address 2 (Optional)

Zip Code

I Accept myCPE Terms and Conditions

Guaranteed safe & secure checkout

Pay $199

Table of Contents

In today’s fast-paced business environment, finding top-tier accounting talent is both a priority and a challenge. Traditional hiring methods often involve high costs and lengthy timelines, pushing firms to seek alternative solutions. One increasingly popular approach is flat-fee recruitment, which offers cost predictability and efficiency.

This article covers the advantages of flat-fee recruitment, particularly in the accounting industry, and highlights how MYCPE ONE’s Hire Local Talent (HLT) division is shaping the hiring process.

The Accounting Talent Shortage

The accounting industry is currently facing a severe talent shortage. A recent data shows that the number of U.S. accounting graduates earning bachelor's or master’s degrees dropped by 7.4% from 2021 to 2022—the largest decline since 1994–1995.

This downturn, combined with a wave of retirements (over 75% of CPAs reached retirement age in 2019), has intensified the demand for skilled professionals.

The impact of this talent gap is significant. Between 2019 and 2021, more than 300,000 accountants left their jobs, reducing the overall accounting workforce by 15.9%. As a result, firms are grappling with heavier workloads, longer hiring timelines, and rising recruitment costs.

Challenges in hiring accounting talent

Fierce Competition – With fewer professionals available, firms must compete aggressively for top talent.
Longer Hiring Timelines – Finding the right candidate takes longer than ever.
High Recruitment Costs – Traditional hiring models come with significant fees, often based on a percentage of salary.

Traditional Recruitment Models: The Cost Factor

Most traditional recruitment agencies charge fees based on a percentage of the candidate’s first-year salary—typically upto 35%, depending on the role and industry.

For instance, recruiting a high level accountant who earns $100,000 a year might mean recruitment costs of between $15000 and $25,000.

For small and mid-sized firms, these costs can be a significant burden. Additionally, the unpredictable nature of contingency-based fees makes budgeting and financial planning more complex.

What is Flat-Fee Recruitment?

Flat-fee recruitment is a fixed fee hiring system under which companies are charged a set fee per placement, irrespective of compensation.

How it works:

A firm pays a predetermined fee to the recruitment provider.
The provider sources, screens, and presents qualified candidates.
The firm selects the best candidate without worrying about commission-driven placements.

Flat Fee Recruitment: A Cost-Effective Solution

Flat-fee recruitment offers a clear, fixed-cost recruitment model where a flat fee is paid irrespective of the candidate's salary. This method has some main benefits:

1. Cost Savings and Budget Control

By eliminating percentage-based fees, firms can significantly reduce hiring expenses while gaining financial predictability.

2. Transparency and Predictability

With a set fee established upfront, firms can accurately plan their recruitment budgets without worrying about unexpected charges.

3. Faster Hiring Process

Flat-fee recruitment models often streamline hiring, reducing time-to-fill metrics and minimizing business disruptions.

4. Access to High-Quality Talent

Unlike commission-based models that may drive recruiters to push higher salaries, flat-fee recruitment focuses on matching candidates based on skills and company fit.

Flat-Fee vs. Traditional Recruitment: A Comparison

Feature	Flat-Fee Recruitment	Traditional Recruitment
Cost	Fixed, lower cost	15%-25% of salary
Budget Predictability	High	Low
Hiring Speed	Faster	Slower
Quality of Hires	Focus on skills and fit	Can be influenced by commission
Transparency	Clear fees upfront	Hidden charges possible

Important Considerations

While flat-fee recruitment offers many advantages, there are a few factors to keep in mind:

Scope of Services : Some flat-fee agencies may offer fewer services compared to traditional recruiters. It’s important to clarify what’s included to ensure it meets your firm’s needs.
Candidate Quality : Not all recruitment firms have access to the same talent pool. Verifying the agency’s track record and talent sourcing methods is crucial.

MYCPE ONE’s Hire Local Talent Division: Filling the Gap

To address hiring challenges in the accounting sector, MYCPE ONE has launched the Hire Local Talent (HLT) division, offering a flat-fee recruitment model tailored specifically to accounting firms.

Key Features of MYCPE ONE’s HLT Division:

Transparent Pricing: Recruitment fees start at $6,000 for associates and cap at $25,000 for senior partners—ensuring no hidden costs.
Vast Talent Network: With access to over 10,000 pre-vetted candidates, including 74% with public accounting experience and 31% with backgrounds in Big 4 firms, firms can hire with confidence.
Streamlined Hiring Process: By reducing hiring timelines by 75%, firms can fill positions quickly and maintain smooth operations.
Proven Success: MYCPE ONE boasts an impressive record of successful placements, with more than 1,000 professionals having been placed in North America and 500+ firms being partnered with.

Conclusion

The shortage of accounting talent is certainly a problem. Creative recruitment solutions such as flat-fee recruitment provide companies with a more streamlined and cost-effective means of obtaining top talent. By embracing this model, companies can lower recruitment costs, access high-quality professionals, and streamline the recruitment process. MYCPE ONE’s Hire Local Talent division is leading the way in this space, offering tailored solutions that align with the financial and operational goals of accounting firms.

FAQs

Flat-fee recruitment saves time and effort by outsourcing the hiring process to experts, reducing the burden on internal HR teams.

Yes, whether you are a small firm looking for cost-effective hiring or a large firm needing to fill multiple roles, flat-fee recruitment provides scalability and affordability.Yes, whether you are a small firm looking for cost-effective hiring or a large firm needing to fill multiple roles, flat-fee recruitment provides scalability and affordability.

While no hiring method guarantees success, HLT’s pre-vetted candidate pool significantly increases the chances of finding the right fit. While no hiring method guarantees success, HLT’s pre-vetted candidate pool significantly increases the chances of finding the right fit.

HLT reduces hiring timelines by 75%, meaning firms can expect to fill positions much faster than with traditional recruitment. HLT reduces hiring timelines by 75%, meaning firms can expect to fill positions much faster than with traditional recruitment.

Yes, HLT specializes in accounting and finance roles, tailoring its approach to find candidates with industry-specific expertise. Yes, HLT specializes in accounting and finance roles, tailoring its approach to find candidates with industry-specific expertise.

CA Nemin Vora

Nemin Vora is a Chartered Accountant (equivalent to US CPA) and Tax Attorney, serving as the Offshore Success Advisor at Entigrity Solutions LLC. With over 7 years of experience working with Big 4s and public accounting firms across North America, he's the person you want to talk to when you're thinking about taking your accounting firm global. Nemin is a seasoned leader and a dynamic content creator, weaving stories and insights on tax, leadership, and life that resonate with a wide audience. This creative outlet not only showcases his depth of knowledge but also his ability to connect and inspire. He consults and speaks on various topics including Building Remote Teams, Remote Working, Offshore Staffing, Strategic Planning, Scalability of Accounting Practice, Cloud Accounting, Practice Management, and AI in Accounting. Outside of work, Nemin is a learner at heart, an actor on the stage, and a tech enthusiast.